Ethiopia, formally known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a region which is divided into ten states. Ethiopia is being confronted with what the UN calls a full-scale humanitarian crisis. The government of Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency in the country.
The Federal government, which is established in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa has been vigorously involved in conflicts with the Tigray regional government in the north of the country.
Ethiopia is said to be on the brink of a full-blown civil war. On the 4th of November, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abi Ahmad announced that they (The Federal government) would go into a war with country’s Tigray region.
The Tigray region is under the control of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The war was declared as a reaction to the TPLF’s attack on the federal military base in Tigray.
How Did Abiy Ahmed Become the Prime Minister and Win a Nobel Peace Prize?
Abiy Ahmed, in full Abiy Ahmed Ali fought against the Derg (Dergue) regime, which was in power in Ethiopia around 1975 to 1991. He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel while serving for the Ethiopian National Defence Forces.
Abiy Ahmed in 2007 became the head of Information Network Security Agency, the Ethiopian government’s organization answerable for cybersecurity.
He resigned from the military in 2010 and was later elected into the House of People’s Representatives as a part of Oromo People’s Democratic Organization (OPDO), which in turn was a part of Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) ruling coalition.
Abiy was designated as a Minister of Science and Innovation in the federal government in 2016, however, he held the post for just a brief time, leaving in October of that year to fill in as the vice president of the Oromia local government. Inside the OPDO party, Abiy was chosen as the elected head of the secretariat in 2017.
In the years from 2015–16, there were protests, then fueled by a broader array of grievances against the government, occurring in Oromia as well as in other regions.
The protests were due to a contentious plan proposed by EPRDF driven government to extend Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, by connecting the city to parts of Oromia region.
This was trailed by the startling resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February, after which Abiy Ahmed arose as the main contender to supplant him.
Almost instantly, Abiy Ahmed put forth efforts to strengthen democratic processes, to improve the economy, and to resolve Ethiopia’s long-standing conflicts over the border with Eritrea.
He also signed a peace agreement with one of the groups, which was structured to put an end to more than 30 years of conflict in the Ogaden region.
In 2019 Abiy was the beneficiary of the Nobel Prize for Peace for his endeavours to resolve Ethiopia's border strife with Eritrea.
Where Does the Root of Internal Conflicts in Ethiopia Lie?
Out of the 110 million people in Ethiopia, though the Tigrayans only constitute a 6 per cent have experienced an outsized influence in the government.
This means that they pretty much ran the country for almost 30 years. Contrarily, the largest ethnic group of the country Oromos have protested of marginalization.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was the leader of a coalition of local parties and further had a forehand in arresting several journalists and political dissidents.
Abiy Ahmed says that his directives were to put Ethiopia’s interests above all and amend the uneven distribution of power. Abiy Ahmed further released many prisoners and called home other outcasted political dissidents.
He vowed to open political space and hold free and fair elections. This was seen by Tigrayans as an illegitimate step to gain more power for the federal government.
What Is Currently Happening in Ethiopia?
The Ethiopians did see peace, economical uprise and political stability following Abiy Ahmed’s rise to power. However, the conflict which originally started as a mere disagreement of a few policies between the TPLF and the federal government has now taken a violent turn also including neighbouring countries.
They thwarted an attempt to throw a grenade at Abiy Ahmed which led to a lethal explosion at a grand rally in the capital Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s military chief was shot dead by his own bodyguard amid a failed coup attempt in the Amhara regional government.
Hachalu Hundessa, who was an anti-governmental protestant and an active rallying voice against the TPLF was also brutally killed.
Following the trail of all these events, many were killed and thousands were arrested during the days of unrest. The Federal authorities cut off internet supply to the Tigray region causing unrest among several humanitarian groups.
TPLF opted out of the idea of forming a coalition party and objected to the delay of elections caused due to the COVID-19 and extension of Abby’s stay in the office. The Tigray region held a local election defying the federal government.
This has led to the current condition where opposition parties hold each other illegal. Abby Ahmed gave orders to dispatch federal troops and launched airstrikes over the Tigray region. The declaration of a state of emergency has blocked the supply of food and aid.
Though the federal government made claims of gaining control of the Tigray region, the number causalities have not yet been officially announced due to the lack of internet. Thousands of Ethiopians have fled across the border to Sudan.
Analysts are warning the country of a civil war that could destabilize the nation and the horn of Africa region. It now stands upon the shoulders of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to take a stand and save Ethiopia.
Written by - Bhavana N
Edited by - Christeena George
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